14. Lyra
Two days passed since meeting the pack I never knew I had. We’d exchanged numbers, and all the guys had texted me throughout the days. Fawn liked to send me funny memes or cartoons that always seemed to make me laugh. I learned the hard way not to open them until I was alone or with Eli since the sound of a woman moaning accompanied one of the images. Of course, it would happen when I was in a meeting taking notes as Eli hashed out an important safety issue with one of our refineries. Thankfully, everyone got a good laugh out of it and moved on, giving the meeting a lighter feel than it had up to that point.
Tanner discovered my love of small batch coffee and picked my brain about my favorite flavor notes. He, of course, shared that he owned a coffee shop and promised to give me a tour and roasting lessons if I wanted to learn. Zachary was a huge fan of art and liked to sketch in his free time. He’d send me pictures of things he was working on trying to come up with ideas for a hair competition he was entered in. I had no idea there even was such a thing, but a quick internet search revealed just how big a deal these types of competitions were.
Pascal tried his best, but he openly admitted he wasn’t skilled in the art of small talk and preferred phone conversations to texting. He called me last night absolutely fed up with all his spelling mistakes, and we talked for over an hour. We bonded over our love of classic literature, and I tried to offer him some suggestions for books that had been published in the last decade. He wasn’t convinced they’d be worth his time but promised to at least look up a few of them at the library and see. I was learning Pascal was a man who knew what he liked, and once he found it, he didn’t see the point in changing or expanding that comfort zone. I understood, feeling the same in a few areas of my life, but Elora found ways to show me there was no harm in enjoying more things.
We’d all been waiting to hear back from the Scent Matchers, and this morning, I’d been sent a summons to meet with a Matcher this afternoon. Immediately after reading the letter I’d been handed, I called Eli, even though he would be here any moment to pick me up.
“What’s wrong, Lyra?” Eli questioned the moment he picked up.
“I got a summons,” I blurted. “It’s the Scent Matchers. They want to meet with me this afternoon.”
My hands and voice shook as my mind filled with all the terrible possibilities this could mean for the others and me. What if they refused to believe I was matched to them? Would they have to put me in the system just on the off chance there were more matches out there? Oh God, what if they took Fawn and me away from the pack and turned us into some science experiment to figure out how we were scent-matched?
“Petal, I need you to take a deep breath for me,” Eli instructed, his tone edged with an Alpha command that had me instantly doing as he ordered. “Good girl, now keep taking those breaths until I come get you.”
“You’re here?” I asked, although it sounded more like pleading.
“I’m walking up to the elevator now, but I don’t hear you doing as I asked,” Eli warned, the soft ding of the elevator doors opening in the background.
Closing my eyes, I focused on how my lungs felt as I drew in all the air they could hold and let it all out again. I was fine—Eli was coming. This wasn’t a problem I had to face alone—I had support. These things my mind is telling me to worry about are intrusive thoughts and not facts. With each breath, I tried to tell myself something true and tangible to hold on to. I was the only person who could give more power to the panic fighting to take root.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear Eli enter my apartment. It wasn’t until I was wrapped in his arms and my cheek rested on his chest, breathing in his intoxicated scent, that my body relaxed and molded itself against him, utterly happy for him to take charge of the situation. Until I started experiencing moments like this I didn’t realized how much work it took to handle everything on my own. Even when I was with my previous pack, I hadn’t let them truly take care of me. Our money was separate—I paid my portion of the bills and even bought my own groceries if I wanted something specific. It was easy to see now we’d only been pretending to play pack than actually being one.
“Everything is going to be fine, my precious petal,” Eli murmured, kissing the top of my head. “I’m sure this is a formality due to the unique situation. Either way, I’m going with you to that meeting. Just to be on the safe side, I’ll make sure we bring Jonathan, my friend and lawyer, with us.”
Reassured, I snuggled deeper into his hold, soaking in the warmth and security he offered so freely. It was becoming harder and harder to leave him at the end of the day. Last night, I struggled to fall asleep as my body ached for the need to be near Eli. Since learning about the backlash that could happen if an Omega rejected their matched Alpha, I started looking into the matter. I was reaching the point where I truly wouldn’t be able to be away from one of my Alphas for very long. Things were progressing faster with Eli due to us working together.
Eli’s hands slid down until they cupped my ass, causing my eyes to snap open in surprise. While we’d had more than one hot and heavy make-out session where I seemed to be the only one getting a happy ending, Eli typically didn’t initiate—that was all me. Using his hold, he easily hoisted me up like a child asking to be held. Instinctively, my arms and legs wrapped around him as he clasped his hands under my ass, holding me securely. We were now face-to-face, so I did the only logical thing to do in this situation and kissed him. He eagerly reciprocated, deepening the kiss until I moaned, digging my fingers into the back of his neck, fearing he might pull away.
Time stopped, and all I was aware of was how badly I wanted this man. My need and our growing attachment were fraying the little control I still managed to hold on to. Images of Eli laying me out on my kitchen counter as he shoved up my dress and feasted on my pussy nearly had me climaxing on the spot. The amount of time I’ve spent trying to imagine what it would feel like to have his knot buried deep inside me was obscene. But honestly, how hard would it be for him to shove my skirt out of the way and slide my underwear over so he could fill me with his cock?
“I know something that will make me feel better,” I whispered as I rolled my hips to grind my pussy against him. “Please, Alpha, I’m not sure how much longer I can wait.”
Eli groaned and dropped his head on my shoulder. “Just a little longer, my petal. I promise the moment I get the notice my courting leave has been approved, you and I will spend all day in bed.” He leveled his icy-blue gaze at me, revealing the primal need he’d been hiding all this time. “I hate making you wait, but there’s not a chance in hell I’ll be able to only have you once. No, my sweet petal, I plan to imprint myself on your body so with just a look, I know your pussy is soaked and begging for my knot.”
My whole body shivered as I let out a breathy moan, grinding against him. “Trust me, you’ve been able to do that since day one. Don’t believe me? Check for yourself,” I dared.
In a shocking move, Eli set me down on the counter and slipped a hand under the skirt of my dress. Thank fuck I picked the flowy option over the tight pencil skirt, making this encounter possible. My legs fell open in invitation as he brushed his fingers along my inner thigh. Of course, my commanding Alpha didn’t go right for the prize. Instead, he teased me, using a finger to stroke down the front of my panty-covered pussy. I arched at the touch, letting my head fall back, exposing my neck to him, which he took full advantage of. Eli placed open-mouthed kisses on my neck, letting his teeth scrape over my skin in time with the finger rubbing over my pussy. I cried out in pleasure, not giving a fuck who might hear me. We weren’t at the office.
“Your underwear is soaked, my petal,” Eli commented, nipping at my ear. “Tell me, my sweet Omega, is this because of me?” As he asked the question, he pressed harder on my clit, causing my breath to catch as my body jerked at the jolt of pleasure that shot through me.
Taking a second to lick my lips as my mouth had suddenly gone dry, I answered, “Yes, Alpha, just your scent has me drenched.”
Eli purred, pleased at my answer. “What a seductive Omega you are teasing me with your scent full of need. I wonder, do you taste as good as you smell?”
Before my brain could register what his question meant, his pointer finger slid under the barrier blocking his access and slowly drew his finger through the folds of my pussy. The tip of his finger caught on the entrance, making me cry out as I rolled my hips, trying to entice it to slide deeper inside me. When Eli pulled his hand away, I panicked, letting out the neediest whine I’d ever heard come out of my mouth.
“Pleeease, Eli,” I begged, grabbing his arm and preventing him from taking it any further away from my body.
His gaze bore into mine as he leaned forward and ran his tongue up the length of his finger coated in my slick. I watched Eli’s eyes flutter closed as he groaned deeply at my taste, looking as if he’d just sampled the world’s finest delicacy. “Just as I suspected, you taste of perfection, my petal. Tell me, do you think it could taste even better if I got it straight from the source?”
At the mere possibility of what that question could mean, I threw my control and shame out the window. I grabbed my skirt, yanked it up, splayed my legs as wide as they could go, and laid back on the counter, offering myself to be feasted on. Eli started to purr as both his hands massaged my thighs, slowly making their way toward my center. He leaned forward and let the tip of his nose brush over my pussy as he inhaled my scent.
“Do you know what you smell like, Lyra?” Eli asked, a growl coating his words as he hooked a finger at the edge of my underwear and pulled it to the side, exposing my pussy.
Not wanting to risk saying the wrong thing and him leaving me like this for the rest of the day, I answered his question with one of my own. “Tell me, Alpha, what do I smell like?”
“Mine,” Eli answered in the most primal voice possible before diving into the prize he claimed.
The second his mouth latched onto my pussy, I screamed as the building orgasm slammed into me. I’d been so turned on by this whole interaction there was no stopping the speeding train. This reaction only served to delight Eli as his tongue thrust as deep as it could, lapping up the slick that was pouring out of me. He managed to draw out my climax with his purring, which turned his tongue into the best fucking magic bullet to be played with. Finally, he shifted his attention to my clit, letting his tongue swirl around the sensitive, swollen nub that had my hips thrusting and legs clamping around his head.
Another orgasm washed over me, causing my eyes to roll back in my head as two fingers entered my pussy. At some point, lost in the chaos of ecstasy, my hand fisted in his hair, shoving his face deep into my pussy. The rhythm of his fingers sped up as he caressed the soft, spongy spot that set my body on fire. Never in my thirty years had I ever felt like I was truly going to explode from an orgasm.
Eli expertly built momentum, keeping me teetering on the edge and pushing my body to accept more. Then, as I thrashed on the counter, sobbing at the need to come, he gave me the release I was so desperate for. All it took for me to detonate was the feel of his teeth as they brushed over my clit.
Every muscle in my body contracted, bowing my back as I screamed long and loud. I could see stars dancing in my vision as it felt like my soul was leaving my body. All I could hear was the frantic drumming of my heart as I gasped for air once my muscles relaxed. The slightest touch had me twitching from aftershocks as my pussy pulsed, doing its happy dance at the attention it received.
“Holy fuck,” I rasped.
Eli chuckled, pressing a kiss to my inner thigh before stepping away. I whimpered in protest, but he shushed me, taking my hand and nuzzling it. “I’m not going far. I just want to help clean up the mess I made out of you.”
Just hearing him talk like that had me moaning as little sparks of pleasure danced across my skin. I watched as he turned the water on and looked around for a kitchen towel. Unable to offer any help since I wasn’t sure I remembered my name, so I left him to his search. Once the towel was located, he wet it and returned it to me. In an expert-level move, he yanked my underwear off and slipped them down my legs.
“You’re going to need a fresh pair,” Eli explained, showing the soaked garment.
Then he took his time wiping me, randomly dropping soft kisses as he worked. Once he was satisfied, he scooped me up, carried me to my bedroom, and sat me on the edge of my bed. Confused about what he was doing now, I watched as he entered my closet and returned a moment later with clean underwear. Embarrassed, my cheeks flamed as he kneeled, holding them open for me to step into.
“Eli, I can do that,” I argued.
“I know you can, but you’re going to let me take care of you like the good Omega you are,” Eli countered.
Damn him. Letting out a sigh, I stood and rested my hands on his shoulders while I let him pull the underwear up my legs. He held my gaze the entire time, making the moment far more intimate than it had any right to be. There was nothing sexual in his touch. In fact, it turned rather possessive and had my pulse speeding up all the same. Breaking his hold on me, Eli adjusted my skirt, ensuring nothing was bunched or tucked awkwardly before standing. He took my face in his hands and kissed me, stealing away what little breath I still had.
“Remember, just because you can do something doesn’t mean you always have to. It brings me immense joy and fulfillment to know I can provide for you, my sweet, perfect petal. So if it helps, consider situations like this me being selfish as I dote on you,” Eli murmured, kissing me once more before releasing me. “Do you feel better now?”
Confused, I just blinked at him. “What?”
He smiled and took my hand, leading me out of the bedroom. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
When I saw him pick up the Scent Matchers’ summons from the counter, I connected the dots. God, why am I such an idiot sometimes? Of course, that’s what he was referring to and why he was up here in the first place. I let out a frustrated grunt as I gathered my purse and jacket before heading out into the hall.
“Oh shit,” I swore, dashing back in to grab my phone I’d dropped on the floor once the fun started.
“Sorry, I seem to be a little scatterbrained today,” I apologized, rejoining Eli.
“You’re fine. I’m sure your boss will understand if you’re a little late,” Eli teased.
My jaw dropped. “Did you just make a joke?”
He looked down at me with a raised eyebrow as the elevator doors closed. “Why do you make that sound so surprising?”
Instantly, my mouth snapped shut, and I started to panic a little. Had I just offended him?
“Ah… well…” I stammered.
Eli slid a hand around the back of my neck and pulled me close, tugging on my hair to look up at him. “Lyra, you’re safe with me. I’m not going to get upset or punish you for speaking your mind. Besides, you were right to comment. I don’t tend to make jokes, at least not ones people find funny.”
“Sorry,” I blurted, then cringed, knowing he didn’t like it when I apologized for no reason.
Not saying a word, he rested his forehead against mine for a moment, breathing in my scent until the elevator dinged. He didn’t let me go until he pressed a kiss to my forehead, laced our hands together, and stepped out into the lobby.
I did not deserve this man, but I was one damn lucky Omega that he didn’t agree.